Flight attendants plead guilty to smuggling $8 Million in drug money to Dominican Republic

New York.- Four flight attendants have pleaded guilty to smuggling $8 million in drug money on commercial flights from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic. Using their TSA privileges, they bypassed standard security checks at John F. Kennedy International Airport and other airports, allowing them to smuggle large sums of cash with less scrutiny.

The flight attendants charged are Charlie Hernandez, 42, from New Jersey; Sarah Valerio Pujols, 42, from the Bronx, NY; Emmanuel Torres, 34, from Brooklyn, NY; and Jarol Fabio, 35, from New York. They face charges including operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum five-year sentence, and violating airport security, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Pujols and Hernandez are also charged with conspiracy, and Pujols faces an additional charge of bulk cash smuggling.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized that this case shows that aiding drug traffickers by moving illicit money will be punished. Homeland Security Special Agent Ivan J. Arvelo added that the defendants took advantage of their trusted positions to smuggle funds linked to narcotics, including fentanyl. The individuals involved worked for different airlines.